The Basics

Time

Canada covers six time zones, from GMT -8 in the west to GMT -3.5 in the east.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. American-style flat two-pin plugs and a plug with a third round grounding pin are standard.

Language

The official languages are English and French (spoken predominantly in Quebec).

Travel Health

No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Canada. Medical care
is excellent, but expensive, so medical insurance is advised.

Tipping

There is no service charge added to restaurant bills in Canada
and staff expect a tip of around 15 percent. Hairdressers and taxi
drivers are also usually tipped at the same rate, while bellhops,
doormen, porters and similar service providers at hotels, airports
and stations are generally paid C$1 per item of luggage carried.
Tour guides and bus drivers should generally receive C$3-C$5 per
day. It has become more common for places with counter service to
display 'tip jars', but in such cases tipping is not necessary.

Safety Information

Most visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is
politically stable, but does share the common international risk of
terrorism. There have been no recent terrorism events. The crime
rate is low, but travellers are advised to take sensible
precautions to safeguard their belongings, as they would anywhere.
Canada is prone to tornadoes between May and September.

Local Customs

Smoking bans have been implemented in Canada in enclosed public
places such as restaurants, bars and shopping malls.

Business

Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal are the main business
centres. English is the language of business except in
French-speaking Quebec, where all written material and business
cards should be in French. Business cards are not traditionally
exchanged during an initial meeting, but at some appropriate time
thereafter; it is best to wait for the host to offer theirs
first.

A firm handshake is used by way of greeting, and meetings tend
to begin on time so punctuality should be taken seriously, as
should appearance. Canadians dress conservatively and smartly for
business meetings and suits are the norm. Gifts can be given in
conclusion to celebrate a deal, but should be understated; taking
someone out for a meal is a popular way to conclude business
dealings. Canadians are reserved and frown on emotional outbursts.
Business is based on facts and figures rather than relationships,
so it is best to be as prepared as possible for meetings. Hours of
business are usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Communications

The international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing
code is 011 followed by the relevant country code. The outgoing
code is not necessary for calls to the US and the Caribbean.
Internet cafes are widely available. Most international mobile
phone companies have roaming agreements with Canadian operators,
however it will be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card if
visiting the country for long periods.

Duty Free

Travellers to Canada are allowed to enter the country with the
following items without incurring custom duties: gifts to the value
of C$60 per recipient (excluding advertising material, tobacco and
alcoholic beverages); 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos and
200g of tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks; 1.14 litres of liquor or
wine or 24 x 355ml bottles or cans of beer or ale. There are strict
regulations governing the import of the following: explosives,
endangered animal and plant species, items of heritage, fresh
foodstuffs and weapons. The plant Qhat (Khat) is illegal in Canada
and prison sentences are heavy.

Become our Canada Travel Expert

We are looking for contributors for our Canada travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Canada
or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.